Designing effective learning experiences for learners has become more important as the eLearning industry evolves. In recent years, the popularity of the learning experience design (LXD) approach has grown significantly. LXD takes a holistic approach to designing online learning experiences, focusing on user interface design and best practices in online pedagogy.
However, the traditional instructional design (ID) approach is still relevant and widely used. ID focuses on designing courses that enhance positive outcomes in learners, such as skills acquisition, knowledge retention, and course completion rates.
In this article, we’ll explore the key differences between instructional design and learning experience design and how they complement each other to create compelling eLearning experiences. We’ll also discuss the benefits of using ID and LXD and how they can be applied in different learning contexts.
Instructional Design
Instructional design (ID) is a systematic approach to designing educational and training materials that enhance positive outcomes in learners. The primary focus of ID is to develop instructional materials that optimise learning by considering the principles of learning, including behavioural, cognitive, and constructivist theories.
ID can be applied in various learning contexts, such as in-person training sessions, eLearning courses, or apprenticeship programmes. For instance, ID can be used to design a self-paced online course that includes interactive activities, multimedia elements, and assessments. It can also be used to design a blended learning programme that combines online and in-person training.
One key benefit of ID is that it is cost-effective. Using ID principles, instructional designers can create high-quality content and other learning materials that consider learners’ specific needs without incurring high costs. Additionally, ID ensures that students learn efficiently by delivering content that is easy to understand and retain. It also increases student engagement, improving learning outcomes, including higher completion rates and better assessment performance.
Another benefit of ID is that it can be used to create effective and efficient courses for learners of all ages, regardless of their level of education or learning background. By designing courses with the principles of ID, educators can help learners develop the necessary skills and knowledge to achieve their learning goals.
Learning Experience Design
Learning Experience Design (LXD) is a human-centred approach to designing online learning experiences that focuses on enhancing the learners’ experience. LXD takes a holistic approach, incorporating user interface design and best practices in online pedagogy to create immersive and engaging learning experiences for learners.
LXD’s key features include multimedia elements, simulations, and interactive activities to create a more engaging and dynamic learning experience. It also emphasises the importance of personalisation, ensuring that learners receive content relevant to their learning needs and preferences.
The principles of LXD are grounded in experiential and situated learning theories, which emphasise the importance of creating learning environments that reflect learners’ real-world experiences. LXD aims to create meaningful and memorable learning experiences that support the transfer of knowledge and skills to real-world situations.
LXD can be applied in various learning contexts, such as higher education, corporate training, and professional development. For example, LXD can be used to design a virtual reality simulation that allows medical students to practice surgical procedures in a safe and controlled environment. It can also be used to create an interactive eLearning course that uses game-like elements to engage learners and reinforce learning outcomes.
One key benefit of using LXD is improving learner engagement, retention, and knowledge transfer. By creating immersive and interactive learning experiences, learners are likelier to stay engaged with the content and retain the information they learn. Additionally, LXD promotes active learning, which allows learners to apply their knowledge in practical situations, increasing the likelihood of knowledge transfer.
Another benefit of LXD is that it allows learners to learn at their own pace and according to their individual learning styles. LXD personalises the learning experience to meet each learner’s specific needs and preferences, making the learning experience more enjoyable and effective.
Differences Between ID and LXD
There are several key differences between Instructional Design (ID) and Learning Experience Design (LXD). While ID has been around for decades and is rooted in psychological theories of learning, LXD is a relatively new concept that draws upon user experience and game design principles.
One of the primary differences between ID and LXD is their approach to designing learning experiences. ID focuses primarily on developing effective instructional materials based on learning principles. At the same time, LXD takes a more holistic approach to creating engaging and immersive learning experiences that incorporate multimedia elements and interactive activities.
Another key difference between ID and LXD is their approach to user experience. ID typically follows an instructor-led approach to training. In contrast, LXD emphasises creating positive and meaningful user experiences by considering the learners’ motivations, the quality of interactions with subject matter experts, and the ease of accessing the learning materials.
Design principles also differ between ID and LXD. While ID focuses primarily on creating instructional materials that help learners acquire new knowledge and skills, LXD emphasises the inclusivity of design by considering the diversity of learners’ abilities, ages, languages, cultures, and genders.
Despite these differences, ID and LXD can complement each other to create effective and engaging eLearning experiences. By incorporating the principles of ID into LXD, instructional designers can create effective and engaging learning experiences. For example, by using ID principles to develop assessments and learning objectives, designers can ensure that learners acquire the necessary knowledge and skills while using LXD principles to create interactive activities and multimedia elements that engage and motivate learners.
In summary, while ID and LXD approach learning design from different angles, they can be used together to create more effective and engaging eLearning experiences. By combining the best approaches, instructional designers can create learning experiences that meet learners’ needs and deliver positive outcomes.
Conclusion
Understanding the differences between ID and LXD is important to creating effective eLearning experiences that engage and motivate learners. By incorporating both approaches, instructional designers can create learning experiences that meet learners’ needs and deliver positive outcomes.
Remember, whether you are looking to develop an eLearning course, apprenticeship programme, or other training materials, understanding the principles of instructional design and learning experience design can help you create effective learning experiences that engage and motivate your learners.
